AFSC and Olds College Agreement Renewed

Five-year Agreement Strengthens Research Innovation and Technology Adoption

Agriculture Financial Services Corporation and Olds College of Agriculture and Technology have renewed their memorandum of understanding, extending their partnership for another five years. This agreement reinforces a shared commitment to advancing smart agriculture through applied research, innovation, and collaboration across Alberta’s agriculture sector.

The renewed agreement sets out a clear framework for continued cooperation in the development, testing, training, and demonstration of emerging smart agriculture technologies. A key focus of the partnership is applied research that supports data collection and analysis, evaluation of new digital tools, and the sharing of non-proprietary data. This work is intended to benefit agricultural producers, AFSC programs, and Alberta’s broader agri food industry.

“AFSC and Olds College are natural allies – AFSC supports Alberta agriculture through insurance and lending, while Olds College advances agriculture through education and research,” says Todd Ormann, Vice President, External Relations & Research, Olds College. “We share a clear vision to transform the industry and support Alberta’s farmers, producers and agriculture industry. Thank you to AFSC for your work and for our strong, ongoing partnership.”

The partnership builds on past success, including recognition as Olds College Partner of the Year in 2023. It also supports AFSC’s role as an AgSmart sponsor and expands opportunities for student engagement through classroom presentations and skill development training focused on producer needs.

Joint applied research projects will continue under the renewed agreement. These include the use of automation technologies such as drones to support activities like estimating hail damage.

Field trials at the Olds College Smart Farm will help test and demonstrate new applications. The partners will also work on business risk management analytics and tools that support AFSC and its clients.

“As provincial organizations, sharing resources, time and commitment have made a real difference,” says Darryl Kay, Chief Executive Officer, AFSC. “Many of the program improvements we’ve seen in recent years are a direct result of our collaboration with Olds College. Partnerships like this are vital to growing and sustaining agriculture, giving us the opportunity to work in the field and benefit directly from our partner’s industry expertise.”

Through this renewed agreement, both organizations reaffirm their dedication to strengthening Alberta agriculture and supporting the future of farming through innovation, education, and collaboration.